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Showing posts with label Civil War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Civil War. Show all posts
Thursday, December 03, 2020
MG Lighthouse Keeping Novel Another Intriguing Historical Novel in a Favorite-of-Mine Series
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Although helping at the lighthouse might not be a very "ladylike" thing to do, 15-year-old Amelia "Wickie" Martin loves aiding her father in his assistant lighthouse keeper duties. Her dad, a former captain, was stripped of his ship after helping an abolitionist and banished to remote Fenwick Island, Delaware. Wickie's mother is still bitter over the family's tarnished reputation and reduced financial situation. Wickie couldn't be happier. Living in a border state means everyone around her—including her parents—are hotly divided over the issue of slavery. It's only in the lighthouse that Wickie feels true peace. There, she can be herself, which means quietly supporting abolition and even finding her own ways to help the cause. While the Civil War tears her nation and her parents apart, can Wickie find a way to keep herself intact?
Scholastic started publishing the Dear America books—a series of middle-grade novels penned by various well-known authors written in diary format and centered around important historical events—in 1996, while I was a sophomore in college. I wish they had been in circulation when I was in elementary school because I would have eaten them up! Even as an adult, I enjoy these quick, intimate historical novels. I've read a number of them. When I was looking for a book set in Delaware for the Literary Escapes Reading Challenge, I came across A Light in the Storm by Karen Hesse. Although the book is more episodic than plot-driven, it made for an interesting read. I enjoyed learning about lighthouse keeping, something I've not encountered before in fiction. Hesse mentions in her Author's Note that Wickie was inspired by a real-life female Lightkeeper, Ida Lewis, whose careful watch saved many from dying at sea. I'd never heard of Lewis' heroic efforts, so that made A Light in the Storm even more fascinating. Also intriguing was looking at the Civil War from the position of someone living in a border state. That situation put a new spin on the subject for me. I did find Wickie's life—and thus her story—to be a sad, depressing one. For that reason and more, I liked but didn't love this novel.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books in the Dear America series)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, February 06, 2019
Female Civil War Soldiers Novel a Good (Enough) Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When her young husband joins the Confederate Army, Libby Beale Tanner knows he may never come home. Still, she's not at all prepared to be a widow almost before she's had a chance to be a bride. Haunted by the loss, Libby's overwhelming grief takes on a disturbing singlemindedness. Obsessed with avenging her husband by killing one Union soldier to represent each of the dead man's twenty years of life, she disguises herself as a man and joins the Army herself.
Although Josephine Beale never liked her sister's cocky husband, she's devastated to see her beloved Libby so overtaken by sadness. When she discovers Libby's cockamamie plan to enlist, Josephine begs her sister not to be so foolhardy. When Libby refuses to back down, Josephine does the only thing she can to protect her—she enlists, too.
Rechristened Thomas and Joseph Holden, the women join a big, bloody war that will rock them to their cores in ways they could never have predicted. Tormented nightly by her husband's angry ghost, Libby slowly descends into madness. Struck by Cupid's arrow, Josephine is going crazy in a different way. Desperate to keep their identities both concealed and intact, the sisters struggle to remain sane in a world gone utterly mad.
I find the subject of women disguising themselves as men to serve in the Civil War endlessly fascinating. These based-on-a-true-story accounts showcase the courage and devotion that drove real women to join the cause, whether it was in an effort to stay close to a loved one, earn money for their families, or simply to prove themselves in a time when they were limited by the constraints of being a "lady". Sisters of Shiloh, penned by sisters Kathy and Becky Hepinstall, is an interesting depiction of what two Southern women may have experienced while serving as Confederate soldiers. Although the characters are not well developed, the sisters are both sympathetic story people. Their tale is one of survival; as such, it's episodic, meandering, and even a little dull at times. Despite this, a plodding pace, and some overdone prose, though, I liked Sisters of Shiloh well enough to finish it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of I Shall Be Near to You by Erin Lindsay McCabe and Women of the Blue and Gray by Marianne Monson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Sisters of Shiloh with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, August 07, 2018
Fascinating New HERstory Book Brings Women's Civil War Contributions to Light
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
If you were asked to name women who made important contributions to the Civil War—on either side of the conflict—who would you list? Clara Barton is the one who comes quickest to my mind, followed by Harriet Tubman. After that ... um ... I got nothing. Of all the thousands of women who served, sacrificed, and risked their lives to help with the war effort, it's natural that many of their names and deeds have been lost to time. It's astounding, though, that certain women—all of whom performed unique, impressive, and courageous actions—are not household names.
Perhaps that will change with the publication of Marianne Monson's newest book, Women of the Blue & Gray. A follow-up to her Frontier Grit (2016), this volume features a wide cross-section of females who aided the war effort as spies, soldiers, scouts, nurses, doctors, abolitionists, cooks, political activists, reformers, revolutionaries, and more. The women were wealthy, destitute, educated, illiterate, married, single, widows, mothers, childless, white, black, Native American, and so on. What they have in common is incredible stories, most of which I hadn't heard before. If you, like me, are not familiar with the many contributions made by women during the war, I urge you to pick up this book. It makes for fascinating reading.
Although I found all of Women of the Blue & Gray engrossing, some sections interested me more than others. I love that Monson includes "Further Reading" lists with every chapter. That way, I can delve on my own into the subjects that interested me most (women disguising themselves as men to serve beside their husbands, brothers, and fathers for instance). The book's concluding chapter, "Pathways to Peace" is an especially touching finale, discussing efforts made after the war
to promote forgiveness and looking forward instead of backward.
As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed Women of the Blue & Gray. It's interesting, engaging, touching, and inspiring. I'm passing it on to my 16-year-old feminist daughter, who I know will be just as awed as I was by the incredible stories within its pages.
(Readalikes: The chapters on women disguising themselves as men in order to fight in the Civil War remind me of I Shall Be Near to You by Erin Lindsay McCabe. I'm sure They Fought Like Demons: Women Soldiers in the Civil War by DeAnne Blanton and Lauren M. Cook is also similar, although I haven't read it yet.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Women of the Blue & Gray from the generous folks at Shadow Mountain. Thank you!
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Dual-Timeline Southern Ghost Story An Enjoyable, Moving Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Nothing could take a devoted desert conservationist away from her beloved Arizona—except for true love. Marielle never intended to fall for someone who doesn't live locally, but that's what happened when she accidentally met Carson Bishop online. Despite their quick courtship, she's thrilled to be marrying the 40-year-old widower and becoming stepmom to his two young children. She's not quite as pumped about moving into Holly Oak, Carson's first wife's ancestral mansion in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It's a beautiful, stately home steeped in history, and the only one the kids have ever known. Hudson and Brette will inherit Holly Oak when its current owner dies. Until then, the children will continue living there with Carson and his new wife. Undaunted by the salacious Civil War ghost stories that surround the old estate, Marielle's a little more concerned about its living relic—Carson's 89-year-old grandmother-in-law, Adelaide McClane. Marielle and her new family will be the intimidating old lady's house guests until she passes.
With little else to occupy her mind while her husband works in D.C. and her stepchildren are at school, Marielle decides to investigate Holly Oak's (alleged) resident ghost. Sullied by rumors that she worked as a spy for the North, Susannah Page was branded a traitor to her Southern roots. Does the old apparition seek vengeance by cursing her female ancestors? Considering the fates of all the women connected to Holly Oak, a place which seems "stuck in a strange limbo of regret" (24), it certainly seems so. Good thing the mansion's newest resident doesn't believe in ghosts. Or does she?
A Sound Among the Trees (2011) is one of Susan Meissner's older novels, but one whose premise especially appeals to me. Give me a mysterious old home brimming with tragedy, ghosts and family secrets and I'm one happy reader! While this one didn't turn out to be my favorite of this type of novel (Kate Morton is the queen of this genre, in my [not so] humble opinion), I still enjoyed it. With a rich, atmospheric setting and a compelling plot, it was easy to get absorbed in the tale. True, the characters are a little blah, but their problems still interested me. Overall, A Sound Among the Trees tells a beautiful story about redemption, resilience, and making peace with the past. It's a clean, moving read that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys dual-timeline novels set in the American South.
(Readalikes: The structure/style remind me of other dual-timeline novels by Susan Meissner as well as books by Kate Morton)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and brief, non-graphic references to sex and rape
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Civil War Novel an Ode to Strength and Spirit of Women Warriors
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
With constant talk of the war, it's no surprise that the boys of Flat Creek, New York, are eager to join up. Rosetta knows it's only a matter of time before Jeremiah Wakefield, the boy she's always loved, enlists. She can't stand the thought of her beloved in harm's way, even if the money he'll earn will get them a whole lot closer to their shared dream of marrying and buying a farm of their own. Even though they wed before Jeremiah leaves, Rosetta is still plagued by anxiety and worry. She can't sit at home idling her days away, so she disguises herself as a boy and secretly follows her husband into battle.
Jeremiah isn't exactly thrilled when he discovers what Rosetta's done, but she's determined to see it through. With both of them earning a soldier's pay, they can buy their farm even faster. If both of them survive the war, which grows increasingly more desperate and bloody by the second. As Rosetta works to prove herself as capable as any other soldier, she'll have to face the greatest dangers and struggles of her life. With comrades dying all around her, Rosetta fears she'll never make it home alive. Will Jeremiah and the other Flat Creek boys ever return to their farms and families? What of the glittering dream that's driving Rosetta on? Will it come to pass? Or will everything—and everyone—she loves become just another casualty of war?
Inspired by the hundreds of real women who served in the Civil War in various capacities, I Shall Be Near to You by Erin Lindsay McCabe honors the strength and spirit of female warriors who fought for the right to battle alongside their husbands, sons, and countrymen. And held their own. Rosetta embodies everything admirable about those real-life women—she's brave, loyal, compassionate, and tough. Her story is an intriguing one, with lots of tension and adventure to keep the reader turning pages. For me, the most fascinating part of a historical novel is often the Author's Note at the end which talks about the real stories behind the fiction and this one was no exception. I had no idea how many women served in the war—I'm definitely planning to read more about these real-life heroines (starting with the reading suggestions McCabe offers on her website)
(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of I Shall Be Near to You from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Exciting Backdrop, Realistically-Flawed Characters Make LDS Historical Novel a Compelling, Convincing Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
At 14, Ethan Pace doesn't need a governess. And yet, he's not complaining about Leah Donaldson, the pretty young orphan who has come to Lawrence, Kansas, to look after him and his younger sister. Four-year-old Addie is immediately smitten with her new minder, as is Ethan. Not only is 18-year-old Leah beautiful, but she's also playful, smart, and kind. Some people shun her because of her strange religion; Ethan couldn't care less if she's a Mormon. He and his best buddies, Bobbie and Toe-Jam, adore her all the same. Ethan knows Leah intends to stay only until she can afford to make her way to Salt Lake City—her Zion—but he's determined not to let her go. His tender heart couldn't take it if she did.
Although Lawrence has remained relatively safe from the Civil War violence raging in other parts of the country, there have been threats from bloodthirsty vigilantes. On August 21, the town is ransacked in a deadly raid which leaves over 150 people dead. In her effort to protect the children, Leah has to make a terrible choice.
Haunted by the loss of his beloved childhood governess, an older Ethan vows to get revenge. All he's ever wanted is to make Leah happy; now that he's a man, he has the means to do it. If only he can find her, punish those who've hurt her, and convince her to trust—and love—him, they'll finally have the happily ever after they both deserve.
If only it were that easy ...
You all know by now that I'm not a huge fan of LDS fiction. Too often it's cheesy, poorly written, and unrealistic. Overall quality in the genre is improving, though, and Loving Leah, a historical romance by Lynne Larson, is an excellent case in point. Using a lesser-known event from the Civil War as a backdrop, the author creates a tense, exciting setting that brings a time and place I knew little about to vivid life. The characters are intriguing, mostly because they're realistically flawed. Even the lovely and virtuous Leah makes mistakes. Because these story people feel so human, it's easy to empathize with their plight. I cared about what happened to them. Although the book talks a lot about the Gospel, it never gets too preachy. All of these elements combine to make Loving Leah a compelling, convincing read. Its ending broke my heart a little, but overall, I enjoyed this one very much. I'll definitely be watching eagerly to see what this author does next.
(Readalikes: Style-wise, Loving Leah reminds me of Carla Kelly's Western romance novels.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, blood/gore, and brief, non-graphic references to sex
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Loving Leah from the generous folks at Covenant. Thank you!
--
If you'd like to read more reviews of Loving Leah, check out the following links from its blog tour. Unfortunately, the giveaway referred to in the banner is no longer accepting entries. No worries, though. You can buy yourself a copy of Loving Leah at Amazon, Deseret Book, Barnes & Noble, etc.
*April 26th: http://empowermoms.net/, http://sweetlymadejustforyou.
*April 27th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Civil War Coming-of-Age Novel Proves That Beauty Abounds Even in the Ugliest of Circumstances
(Image from Barnes & Noble)At some point in my schooling, I wrote a report on the Civil War. I don't remember the exact subject I researched, but I do recall coming upon a very grisly detail related by a Union soldier who had been held at Andersonville prison. Nothing else in that report stuck in my mind. This did. Even now, I remember it clearly: The former POW said that while incarcerated, he became so starved that when he saw an ill prisoner vomit, he scurried over to the puddle to
pick out the undigested pieces of corn that lay in the other man's puke. Then, he ate them. Gratefully. That revolting vignette told me everything I needed to know about Andersonville.
pick out the undigested pieces of corn that lay in the other man's puke. Then, he ate them. Gratefully. That revolting vignette told me everything I needed to know about Andersonville. Disgust kept me from reading another word about the prison - until Scholastic sent me a copy of Ann Rinaldi's 2001 middle grade novel, Numbering All the Bones. The story takes place in 1864 on a plantation just outside of Andersonville, Georgia. Our heroine, 13-year-old Eulinda, has lived at Pond Bluff all her life. Although she's a house servant, her "high yellow" skin proves that her father wasn't just another field hand. It's not like Mr. Hampton Kellogg - the man she calls "Master" - would ever admit that he's her father, but the lightness of her complexion is enough to gain her elevated status among the plantation's slaves. Unlike them, Eulinda can read, write, and speak like a lady. Her presence is tolerated both inside the house and in the slave quarters, although her "namby-pamby" self can't decide exactly where she fits. A slave friend urges Eulinda to "make yourself come true" (46), but Eulinda can't bring herself to leave the comfort of the house for the squalor of a life in the quarters.
When Eulinda happens upon a shocking scene - there's a prison camp practically in her backyard! - she knows it's time to prove herself. Just the possibility of her older brother, Neddy, having to endure such a place spurs her to action. Little does she know just how caught up she will become with events at the prison. Especially when the famous Clara Barton comes to town. Eulinda will have to dig into the deepest recesses of her soul to find the strength to face the horrors of Andersonville, the courage to bury the bones of her past, and the temerity to forge her own future.
Although I've read countless stories about places like Auschwitz and Dachau, I've never encountered one about the place Rinaldi insists "was, in reality, a death camp - maybe the only real one to exist on American soil" (165). The author's descriptions of the suffering at Andersonville are as moving as they are horrifying. Eulinda's shame over the situation and her subsequent attempts to make things right, prove how heroic ordinary people like Clara Barton were in their simple exhibitions of humanity. While there is much heroism in this story, it is, at its heart, really the tale of a girl struggling to find her place. It's about facing truth, accepting the past, and moving on. Really, it's about one thing - growing up.
Eulinda is a completely sympathetic character with a voice that's strong and clear. She won my heart over and over and over again. I still find Andersonville a disturbing subject, but this book (like many Holocaust novels) shows that beauty can be found even in the ugliest of circumstances. A touching, memorable novel, Numbering All the Bones is not to be missed.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of many Holocaust novels, including The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne and a little of Black Angels by Linda Beatrice Brown)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for scenes of war-related violence and suffering
To the FTC, with love: I received this book from the generous folks at Scholastic. Thank you!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Amen to That: How A Tweet Brought Me Black Angels
(Image from Barnes & Noble)Mama, are there any angels Black like me?
I've been as good as any little girl can be.
If I hide my face, do you think they will see?
Mama, are there any angels Black like me? (13)
When a writer like Sharon G. Flake Tweets about a book and says she "loved every word," doesn't it make you wonder what kind of story could be so moving? Doesn't it make you want to track down such a gem for your own enjoyment? It certainly did for me. After reading this post at The Brown Bookshelf, I clicked right on over to Amazon and ordered Black Angels by Linda Beatrice Brown for myself. Two days later, I'm sitting here trying to describe the power of this exquisite novel. Can I do it justice? I'm pretty sure I can't, but I'm going to try because this just might be the most outstanding book I've read this year.
Black Angels is the story of 3 orphans on the run. With war raging all around them, the trio are all lost in the woods of North Carolina, each following the river for his/her own reason. There's Luke, an 11-year-old runaway, heading north to escape the cruel hands of his master; 9-year-old Daylily, terrified and confused after watching Union soldiers murder her mistress; and little Caswell, a 7-year-old white boy who's running from his burning home, trying desperately to find his mother. Fate brings them together, need keeps them that way. Feeling responsible for the youngsters, Luke becomes their fearless leader. As they trudge north, hunger, fatigue and hopelessness settle in. Still, they march onward. Leaving wild animals, fever, soldiers, spies, and vast, bloody battlefields in their wake, they emerge from the woods changed forever.
Their dangerous trek forges an unbreakable bond - the ragtag children become the strongest sort of family. But, two escaped slaves and a rich, white child can't be brothers and sister, at least not in the eyes of a nation divided by race. Even when the war ends "times were bad. It seemed as one war got over, another, trickier one had started. It didn't look good for Black people and freedom" (253). Fearing punishment for abandoning their plantations, Luke and Daylily live in constant fear. After surviving the loss of their homes and kin, how can they bear to lose their newly-formed family, too? If there are angels in God's heaven - Black or otherwise - where are they now? Where and how will three children find the strength to survive in a world ripped apart by fear and hate?
Strong and hopeful, Black Angels is the incredible story of an extraordinary friendship. It celebrates courage, faith and family in all its forms. Unflinchingly honest, but beautifully rendered, it's simply a triumph. A rich, touching, powerful triumph. I can't say it well enough, so I'll let Flake convince you:
"Young people will be reading Black Angels for generations. Teachers will be assigning it and studying it for ages. It's a history lesson, adventure story, and a lesson in love, surviving tough times, and depending on God and one another, all at the same time ... I loved every word."
All I can say is, Amen to that.
Grade: A+
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for mild language and violence related to war and slavery
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